Motor-vehicle.



No. 820,905. l y PATENTED MAY 15, 1906. J. W. BIRD.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLIGATION FILED .TULY22. 1905.

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No. 820,905. PATENTBD MAY 15 J'. W. BIRD.

MOTOR VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2z. 1905.

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JACOB W. BIRD, OF TOWNSEND,

TENNESSEE, ASsIeNoE or EDWARD GEORGE KEESLE, or TowNsEND,

ONE-HALF TO TENNESSEE.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1906..,

Application led July 22, ,1905. Serial No, 270,820.

To all whom it may cm1/cern.-

Beit known that l, JACOB W. Bran, a citizen ofthe United StatesofAmerica, residing at Townsend, in the county of Blount and State ofTennessee, have invented new and useful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in motor-vehicles, andparticularly to a motordriven dray, Wagon, or similar vehicle which maybe used for transporting goods or pushing or drawing various vehicles.

`The ob'ect of the invention is to provide a vehicle of this characterwhich is especially adapted for farm and road use for hauling ortransporting purposes, but in which novel features are provided. whichmaybe employed on any type of vehicle of this character, and which issimple of construction, adapted to yield high tractive power, and issusceptible of production at a comparatively low cost.

With the above and. other objects in View the invention consists of thenovel construction and combination of arts hereinafter fully describedand claimed? reference being had to the accompanying' drawings, inwhich- Figure l is a side elevation of a motorvehicle embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 1s a top plan view thereof.V Fig. 3 is a cross-sectionon line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a crosssection on line 4 4 of F ig. 2.Fig. 5 is a bot tom plan view of the front portion of the vehicle,showing the steering mechanism., Fig. 6 is a sectional view through oneof the driving-wheels, showing the compensating clutch connection; andFigs. 7 and 8 are detail views of the members of the clutch connection.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1represents the bed. or frame of the vehicle, shown in the presentinstance as comprising longitudinal side bars 2, connected at suitablepoints by transverse On the frame are mounted front and rear axles 4 and5, carrying supportingwheels 6 and 7, the wheels 6 being employed assteering-Wheels and the wheels. 7 as driv ing or propelling wheels, theperipheries of the latter being preferably stepped or ribbed to preventsl'pping on the ground, road, or Street surface. At the rear of theframe is arranged a drivers seat 8 and a motor or engine 9, which lattermay be of any preferred type. In the presentinstancelhave shown aimplements or laden v gasolenefmotor supplied with fuel from astorageetank l0, through a fuel-supply pipe 11.

The front axle 4 journals or spindles on which the steering wheels 6 arerevolubly mounted. To the ends of the axle are connected the ends of asprocket-chain 12, which passes around a sprocket-wheel 13, mounted uponthe lower end of a steeringfshaft 14, journaled on the frame, and whichcarries at its upper end a bevel-gear 15, meshing' with a bevelpinion 16on a steering-lever 17. The lever 17 is journaled in suitable bearingson the frame and extends rearwardly to a point ad'acent the drivers seat8, where it is provided with an operatingfhandle 1S, by which it may beturned in one direction or the other to oscillate the shaft 14, andthereby swingl the axle 4 to guide the vehicle.

he engine or motor shaft 19 carries a pulley 2(), which is connected bya drive-belt 21 with a pulley 22 on a driveshaft 23, journaled inbearings at the front of the frame and extending transversely across theframe. On the shaft 23 is a friction-gear 24, which is keyed or splinedthereto to slide thereon and rotate therewith and is adapted to beshift.- ed into and out of engagement with a frictionf is provided atits ends with Y gear 25 through the medium of a shifting-lever 26,extending rearwardly to a point in proximity to the drivers seat 8,where it is provided with an operating-handle 27.

The friction-gear 25 is carried by a Short shaft 23, extendinglongitudinally of the frame and journaled in bearings thereoniinniediately in rear of the drivesshaft 23, said shaft 28 carrying atits rear end a bevel-gear 29, meshing with a corresponding gear 30 onthe inner end .of a transverse shaft 3l, pro? vided `at its .outer endwith a spurpinion 32. The pinion 32 meshes with a gear-.wheel 33 on atransverse power-transntting shaft 34, journaled in bearings aboutframe 1. 0n said shaft 34 a sproclretfwheel 35 is loosely mounted and,is provided with a clutch member 36, adapted to be engaged by a slidingbevel clutch-Sleeve 37, movable on the shaft between saidsproclretfwheel 36 and a spurpinion 38, which latter is also pro videdwith a clutch member 39. The sleeve 37 is ada ted to occuly a neutralposition between le two clutcli members 36 and 39 or to be shifted inone direction to be encentrally .of thel IOO gaged with the member 36 orin the opposite A dogs 49, carried direction to be engaged with themember 39 to connect one or the other of the gears 35 or 38 with theshaft 34. These gears form elements of forward driving and reversingmechanism adapted to respectively transmit direct motion to the shaft 3or indirectly to said shaft through one of the driving-wheels 7. Theforward propelling mechanism comprises a sprocket-chain 40, which passesat its forward end around the sprocket-wheel 36 and at its rear endaround a sprocket-wheel 41, rigidly mounted on the rear shaft 5. Theshaft 23 is driven in a forward direction by the belt 21 and through theintervening mechanism transmits corresponding motion to the shaft 34,which through the sprocketgearing also drives the shaft 5 forwardly,thus imparting forward motion to the vehicle. The shaft 23 iscontinuously driven from the motor 9 and may be thrown. into and out ofconnection with the powertransmitting shaft 34 through thefriction-gears 24 and 25 to start or stop the motion of the vehicle, thedirection of motion of which is controlled through the forwardpropelling mechanism before described and vthe reversing mechanismhereinafter described and of which the gear 38 forms the driving part.The clutchsleeve 37 is adapted to be shifted in one direction or theother by a pivoted operating-lever 42, which extends rearwardlytherefrom and is provided with an operating-handle 43, adjacent to thedrivers seat 8.

Each driving-wheel 7 is rigidly mounted on a hub 44, journaled on abearing sleeve or spindle 45, fixel on the shaft 5, said parts beingretained in position by a retaining-nut 46. (See Fig. 6). Each hub 44 isprovided with a circumferential flange 47, forming a chamber providedwith internal ratchetteeth 48, adapted to be engaged by pawls or by thestationary spindle or sleeve 45.. The shoulders of the ratchetteeth 48project rearwardly in the direction of rotation of the wheel and arenormally engaged by the dogs or pawls 49 to connect the hub and wheelwith the axle, so that the wheels will turn forwardly with the axle whenmotion is communicated thereto. This construction provides acompensating clutch connection between each wheel and the rear axle tofacilitate turning of the vehicle, the clutch connection of thepivot-wheel maintaining rigid engagement of the same with the axle,while the clutch connection of the other or turning wheel, which movesfaster and describes a greater arc, permits more rapid motion of saidwheel, as the ratchetteeth of the hub are permitted to slip over thepawls.

The reversing mechanism driven by the gear 38 comprises a transverseshaft 50, arranged immediately in rear of the shaft 34 and provided witha gear-wheel 51, which meshes with the gear 38 and a sprocket-pm- 'ion52,

which latter is connected by a sprocket-chain 53 with ratchet-teeth 54on the hub 44 of one of the driving-wheels 7, whereby when the gear 38is connected with the shaft 34 through the clutch-sleeve 37 rearwardmotion will be imparted to said wheel 7 to propel the vehicle backward,the direction of movement of the vehicle when so propelled beingcontrolled through the instrumentality of the steering mechanism. Thisreversinggearing is principally employed to back the vehicle out ofconfined spaces and to facilitate the turning thereof. Tt will thus beseen that the vehicle may be driven forwardly by connecting thepowertransmitting shaft with the rear axle, or that it may be drivenrearwardly by connecting said power-transmitting shaft with one of therear driving-wheels. When the drivingwheel is turned rearwardly it willof course, be understood that the shoulders of the ratchet-teeth 48 willengage the pawls 49 and thus communicate motion to the shaft .5 and tothe other driving-wheel through its clutch connection.

The vehicle may be stopped and controlled in descending grades by thereversing mechanism and by means of a brake acting on the shaft 5. Thisbrake comprises a brake strap or band 55, fixed at one end to the framel and connected at its opposite or free end with the crank-arm 56 of atransverse brake-lever 57, having a controlling crank arm or handle 58.The brake band or strap 55 is adapted to engage a disk or head 59,carried by the stationary bearing sleeve or clutch member 45 of thecompanion wheel 7 of the one connected with the reversing-gearing.

It will be observed that the handles of all of the controlling levers ordevices are arranged in juxtaposition to the drivers seat 8, so that theoperation of the vehicle may be conveniently controlled in all cases bythe driver without moving from his seat also, that the driving mechanismis comparatively simple and adapted to yield comparatively high power.

The invention provides a motor-vehicle or traction-engine which isespecially adapted for road and farm work for hauling or pushingvehicles or farm implements or which may be constructed with a suitableplatform to adapt it for use as a dray; but the various elements of theinvention may be employed upon motor-vehicles of any character.

Having thus described the invention, is claimed as new is l. In amotor-vehicle, wheels mounted thereon, clutch connection between eachwheel and the axle, means for imparting direct motion to the axle torotate the wheels in one direction, and means for communicating motionto one of the wheels and to the axle and other wheel through saidcompensating clutch what a driving axle,

TOO

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a compensating connections to drive the same in the opposite direction.

2. In a motor-vehicle, a driving-axle, wheels mounted thereon, a motor,means for directly connecting the axle with the motor to drive thewheels in one direction, and means for indirectly connecting the motorto the axle through one of the w eels to drive the wheels in the reversedirection.

3. In a motor-vehicle, a driving-axle, wheels mounted thereon, acompensating clutch connection between each wheel and the axle, adriving-shaft, a power-transmitting shaft, gearing for connecting thedrivingshaft with the power-transmitting shaft, and sets of gearing forConnecting the powertransmitting shaft with the driving-axle or one ofthe wheels, and means for throwing said sets of the gearing into and outof operation at will.

4. In a motor-vehicle, a driving-axle, wheels mounted thereon, acompensating clutch connection between each wheel and the axle, apower-transmitting shaft, means for driving the same, sets of gearingfor connecting said shaft with the axle or one of the wheels, and meansfor throwing either set of gearing into and out of operation at will.

5. In a motor-vehicle, a driving-axle, wheels mounted thereon, acompensating clutch connection between each wheel and the axle, apower-transmitting' shaft, sets of gearing for connecting said shaftwith the axle and one of the wheels, and clutch mechanism shiftable inopposite directions for connecting the shaft with either set of gearingat will.

wheels mounted thereon, a compensating clutch connection between eachwheel and the axle, a drive-shaft, a power-transmitting shaft, gearingconnecting the drive-shaft with the power-transmitting shaft, means forthrowing said gearing into and out of operation at will, sets of gearingconnecting the power-transmitting shaft with the axle and one of thewheels thereon, and means for throwing either of said sets of gearinginto and out of operation'at will.

7. In a motor-vehicle, a drivingeaxle, wheels mounted upon the axle, acompensating clutch connection between each wheel and the axle, saidclutch connection comprising members respectively connected with theaxle and wheel, said members adapted to alternately operate as drivingmembers when motion is imparted to the axle or wheel to drive the axlein reverse direction, means for communicating motion to the axle in onedirection, means for communicating motion to the wheel in the reversedirection, and means for throwing either of said motion-communicatingmeans into and out of operation at will.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB W. BIRD. Witnesses:

W. II. DUNN, PAT DUNN.

6. In a motor-vehicle, a driving-axle,

